Semiconductor device, method of fabricating the same and semiconductor device fabricating apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a semiconductor device fabricating method, a plurality of wafers each having a plurality of chips into is carried and is placed in a die bonder. Chips taken out from the plurality of wafers is bonded together, respectively, and superpose in a stack by bonding layers to form a chip assembly. The chip assembly to a die pad by a bonding layer is bonded. Thus, the die bonder is able to bond the chip assembly consisting of the plurality of chips to the die pad, so that the process time of a die bonding process for bonding the plurality of chips to the die pad is comparatively short, the semiconductor fabricating apparatus produces semiconductor devices at an improved productivity, has a comparatively small scale and needs a comparatively low equipment investment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a semiconductor device including a chip assembly formed by stacking a plurality of chips, a method of fabricating the same and a semiconductor device fabricating apparatus.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] A conventional semiconductor device having a high integration level has a plurality of chips of different types stacked on a single die pad for high integration. A method of fabricating such a conventional semiconductor device will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 3 illustrating a process for fabricating the semiconductor device.

[0005] Shown in FIG. 3 are a second wafer 1 a divided into second chips 3 a by dicing, a first wafer 1 b divided into first chips 3 b by dicing, a first collet 5 a for holding and carrying the first chip 3 b from the first wafer 1 b to a die pad 12 mounted on a stage, a second collet 5 b for holding and carrying the second chip 3 a from the second wafer 1 a to the die pad 12, a second bonding layer 7 a for bonding the second chip 3 a to the first chip 3 b, a first bonding layer 7 b for bonding the first chip 3 b to the die pad 12, a semiconductor device 15 fabricated by stacking up the chips 3 a and 3 b, and die bonders 20 a and 20 b included in a semiconductor device fabricating apparatus.

[0006] Referring to FIG. 3, the first wafer 1 b is mounted on a wafer holder, not shown, included in the first die bonder 20 a. A wafer cassette, not shown, holding a plurality of first wafers 1 b therein is carried to the first die bonder 20 a. The first wafer 1 b is conveyed from the wafer cassette to the wafer holder by a wafer conveying device. The first wafer 1 b is divided into a plurality of first chips 3 b by dicing.

[0007] One of the first chips 3 b is picked up from the first wafer 1 b by the first collet 5 a. The first collet 5 a carries the first chip 3 b having a back surface coated with the first bonding layer 7 b to a position above a stage holding a leadframe provided with a die pad 12.

[0008] The stage is heated, the first collet 5 a is lowered in the direction of the arrow to press the first chip 3 b provided with the bonding layer 7 b against the die pad 12 to bond the first chip 3 b to the die pad 12. Then, the die pad 12 is carried away from the first die bonder 20 a.

[0009] The die pad 12 supporting the first chip 3 b thereon is carried to a stage, not shown, included in the second die bonder 20 b. The second wafer 1 a is mounted on a wafer holder, not shown, included in the second die bonder 20 b. A wafer cassette, not shown, holding a plurality of second wafers 1 a therein is carried to the second die bonder 20 b. The second wafer 1 a is conveyed from the wafer cassette to the wafer holder by a wafer conveying device. The second chips 3 a of the second wafer 1 a are of a kind different from that of the first chips 3 b of the first 1 b; that is, the first chip 3 b of the first wafer 1 b and the second chip 3 a of the second wafer 1 a are provided with different elements and circuits, respectively, and have different sizes, respectively.

[0010] The second collet 5 b picks up one of the second chips 3 a of the second wafer 1 a having a back surface coated with a bonding layer 7 a and carries the same to the stage supporting leadframe provided with the die pad 12.

[0011] The stage is heated, the second collet 5 b is lowered in the direction of the arrow, and the second chip 3 a is pressed against the first chip 3 b mounted on the die pad 12 to bond the second chip 3 a to the first chip 3 b. Thus, the two chips 3 a and 3 b are stacked on the die pad 12.

[0012] The number of the die bonders necessary for carrying out this conventional semiconductor device fabricating method is equal to that of the chips to be stacked on the die pad. A bonding process for bonding the lower chip to the die pad is carried out by a first die bonder, and a bonding process for bonding the upper chip to the lower chip bonded to the die pad is carried out by a second die bonder. Thus, each bonding process needs one die bonder.

[0013] If a single die bonder is used for carrying out the plurality of bonding processes, the arrangements of the die bonder must be changed for each bonding process, which reduces the operating ratio of the die bonder. When a plurality of die bonders are assigned to a plurality of bonding processes, respectively, each die bonder operates at a high operating ratio. However, the transfer of one die pad from one to another die bonder needs a comparatively long process time, which is an impediment to the improvement of the efficiency of the semiconductor device fabricating apparatus for the mass production of semiconductor devices. When a plurality of die bonders are used, a large-scale semiconductor device fabricating apparatus is necessary and such a semiconductor device fabricating apparatus needs a large equipment investment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention has been made to solve such problems and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device fabricating method which can be carried out by a comparatively inexpensive semiconductor device fabricating apparatus of a relatively small scale in a short process time.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a comparatively inexpensive semiconductor device fabricating apparatus of a comparatively small scale capable of fabricating a semiconductor device including a chip assembly formed by stacking a plurality of chips in a short process time.

[0016] A third object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device including a chip assembly formed by stacking a plurality of chips, and fabricated by the semiconductor device fabricating method according to the present invention using the semiconductor device fabricating apparatus according to the present invention.

[0017] According to one aspect of the present invention, in a semiconductor device fabricating method, a plurality of wafers each having a plurality of chips is carried into a die bonder and is placed in the die bonder. A plurality of chips, which is taken out from the plurality of wafers respectively and superposed in a stack, is bonded together by each bonding layer to form a chip assembly. The chip assembly is bonded to a die pad by another bonding layer.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor device is fabricated by the above semiconductor device fabricating method.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor device fabricating apparatus comprises a plurality of wafer holders for holding a plurality of wafers, respectively. The apparatus comprises a chip conveying device for conveying one chip from each of the plurality of wafers held by the plurality of wafer holders, and a preparatory stage having a support surface on which chips conveyed from the plurality of wafers by the chip conveying device are stacked up and are bonded together by bonding layers to form a chip assembly. The apparatus further comprises a chip assembly conveying device for conveying the chip assembly from the preparatory stage onto a die pad, and a stage on which the chip assembly is bonded to the die pad by a bonding layer.

[0020] Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the steps of a semiconductor device fabricating method embodying the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a semiconductor device fabricating apparatus embodying the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the steps of a conventional semiconductor device fabricating method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference characters and the duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

Embodiment

[0025]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the steps of a semiconductor device fabricating method embodying the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a semiconductor device fabricating apparatus embodying the present invention.

[0026] Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are a first wafer la divided into first chips 3 a by dicing, a second wafer 1 b divided into second chips 3 b by dicing, a first collet 5 a for carrying one of the chips 3 a and one of the chips 3 b onto a preparatory stage 10, a second collet 5 b for carrying a stack 11 of the chips 3 a and 3 b onto a die pad 12, a first bonding layer 7 a bonding together the chips 3 a and 3 b, a second bonding layer 7 b bonding the chip 3 b to the die pad 12, a semiconductor device 15 formed by stacking the chips 3 a and 3 b, a leadframe 17 provided with the die pad 12, and a die bonder 20, i.e., a semiconductor device fabricating apparatus.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, the first wafer 1 a and the second wafer 1 b are mounted, respectively, on a first wafer holder and a second wafer holder, not shown, included in the die bonder 20. A first wafer cassette, not shown, holding a plurality of first wafers 1 a therein and a second wafer cassette, not shown, holding a plurality of second wafers 1 b therein are carried to and placed in the die bonder 20. A wafer conveying device conveys the first wafer 1 a from the first wafer cassette to the first wafer holder, and conveys the second wafer 1 b from the second wafer cassette to the second wafer holder.

[0028] The first collet 5 a picks up the chip 3 b having a back surface coated with a bonding layer 7 b, such as a bonding film, from the second wafer 1 b and places the same at a predetermined position on the preparatory stage 10. Subsequently, the first collet 5 a picks up the chip 3 a having a back surface coated with a bonding layer 7 a, such as a bonding film, from the first wafer 1 a and places the same on the chip 3 b previously placed on the preparatory stage 10.

[0029] Then, the preparatory stage 10 is heated and the first collet 5 a is lowered in the direction of the arrow to press the chip 3 a against the other chip 3 b. Thus, the chips 3 a and 3 b are bonded together to form a chip assembly 11. The upper surface of the preparatory stage 10 with which the chip 3 b is in contact is coated with a film of a material scarcely adhesive to the bonding layer 7 b. Therefore, only the chips 3 a and 3 b are bonded together and the chip 3 b is not bonded to the preparatory stage 10 even if the preparatory stage 10 is heated and the chips 3 a and 3 b are pressed against the preparatory stage 10.

[0030] Then, the second collet 5 b picks up the chip assembly 11 and carries the same toward a stage, not shown, supporting the die pad 12 thereon. The stage supporting the die pad 12 is heated, and the second collet 5 b is lowered in the direction of the arrow to press the chip assembly 11 against the die pad 12. Consequently, the chip assembly 11 is bonded to the die pad 12 to complete a semiconductor device 15.

[0031] The lead frame 17 shown in FIG. 2 is provided with a plurality of die pads 12. The lead frame 17 is moved in the direction of the arrow on the stage every time one die bonding cycle is completed to bond chip assemblies 11 successively to the plurality of die pads 12.

[0032] The die bonder 20, i.e., the semiconductor device fabricating apparatus, embodying the present invention comprises, as essential components, the plurality of wafer holders, the first collet 5 a for carrying the chips 3 a and 3 b, the preparatory stage 10, the second collet 5 b for carrying the chip assembly 11, and the stage for supporting the die pad 12. The semiconductor device 15 fabricated by bonding the chip assembly 11 formed by stacking and bonding together the chips 3 a and 3 b to the die pad 12 by the die bonder 20 is subjected to a wire bonding process and a packaging process to complete a packaged semiconductor device, i.e., a final product.

[0033] The die bonder 20 employed in carrying out the semiconductor device fabricating method embodying the present invention is provided with the preparatory stage 10 for constructing the chip assembly 11 by stacking and bonding together the chips 3 a and 3 b, in addition to the stage for supporting the leadframe 17. Thus, the die bonder 20 is able to bond the chip assembly 11 consisting of the chips 3 a and 3 b, i.e., a plurality of chips, to the die pad 12, so that the process time of a die bonding process for bonding the chips 3 a and 3 b, i.e., a plurality of chips, to the die pad 12 is comparatively short, the semiconductor fabricating apparatus, i.e., the die bonder 20, produces semiconductor devices at an improved productivity, has a comparatively small scale and needs a comparatively low equipment investment.

[0034] The bonding layers 7 a and 7 b coating the back surfaces of the chips 3 a and 3 b, respectively, are bonding films in this embodiment. The bonding layers 7 a and 7 b may be layers of a bonding paste. The bonding layer 7 a of the bonding paste is formed on a surface of the chip 3 b facing the chip 3 a before placing the chip 3 a on the chip 3 b, and the bonding layer 7 b of the bonding paste is formed on the upper surface of the die pad 12 facing the chip assembly 11 before placing the chip assembly 11 on the die pad 12.

[0035] Although the foregoing embodiment uses the first collet 5 a for carrying the chip, and the second collet 5 b for carrying the chip assembly, a single collet may be used for both carrying the chip and carrying the chip assembly.

[0036] Although the foregoing embodiment uses the single collet 5 a for carrying the chips 3 a and 3 b from the two wafers 1 a and 1 b to the preparatory stage 10, two collets may be used for carrying the chips 3 a and 3 b, respectively.

[0037] Although the foregoing embodiment places the two wafers 1 a and 1 b in the die bonder 20, more than two wafers may be placed in the die bonder 20 to form a chip assembly consisting of more than two chips on the preparatory stage 10 and to place a chip assembly consisting of more than two chips on the die pad 12.

[0038] The chips 3 a and 3 b of the chip assembly 11 may be either of the same type or of different types.

[0039] One or a plurality of chips may be stacked on the semiconductor device 15 formed by stacking the chips 3 a and 3 b on the die pad 12 by the foregoing processes according to the present invention. For example, the semiconductor device 15 formed by stacking the chips 3 a and 3 b may be subjected to the foregoing processes according to the present invention. More specifically, the semiconductor device 15 may be placed in the die bonder 20 and another chip assembly 11 formed by stacking chips on the preparatory stage 10 may be bonded to the semiconductor device 15.

[0040] One chip or a chip assembly formed by stacking a plurality of chips may be bonded to the back surface of the semiconductor device 15 formed by stacking the chips 3 a and 3 b on the die pad 12 by the foregoing processes according to the present invention. For example, the semiconductor device 15 formed by stacking the chips 3 a and 3 b may be repeatedly subjected to the foregoing processes according to the present invention. More specifically, a chip or a chip assembly formed by stacking chips may be bonded to the back surface of the die pad 12 of the semiconductor device 15. That is, the semiconductor device 15 formed by bonding the chip assembly 11 formed by stacking the chips 3 a and 3 b may be mounted in an inverted position on the stage of the die bonder 20 with the back surface of the die pad 12 facing up, and another chip assembly 11 formed by stacking chips on the preparatory stage 10 may be bonded to the back surface of the die pad 12 of the semiconductor device 15.

[0041] In the semiconductor device fabricating method, one or a plurality of chips may be stacked on the chip assembly.

[0042] In the semiconductor device fabricating method, one or a plurality of chips may be stacked on a back surface opposite a surface of the die pad to which the chip assembly is bonded.

[0043] In the semiconductor device fabricating method, the die bonder may include a preparatory stage having a support surface on which the chip is placed, and the support surface may inhibit the adhesion of the bonding layer to the support surface.

[0044] In the semiconductor device fabricating apparatus, the support surface of the preparatory stage may inhibit the adhesion of the bonding layer to the support surface.

[0045] Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may by practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

[0046] The entire disclosure of a Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-273082, filed on Sep. 10, 2001 including specification, claims, drawings and summary, on which the Convention priority of the present application is based, are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor device fabricating method comprising the steps of: carrying a plurality of wafers each having a plurality of chips into a die bonder and placing said plurality of wafers in said die bonder; bonding together a plurality of chips, which is taken out from said plurality of wafers respectively and superposed in a stack, by each bonding layer to form a chip assembly; and bonding said chip assembly to a die pad by another bonding layer.
 2. The semiconductor device fabricating method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of stacking one or a plurality of chips on said chip assembly.
 3. The semiconductor device fabricating method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of stacking one or a plurality of chips on a back surface opposite a surface of said die pad to which said chip assembly is bonded.
 4. The semiconductor device fabricating method according to claim 1, wherein said die bonder includes a preparatory stage having a support surface on which the chip is placed, and said support surface inhibits the adhesion of said bonding layer to said support surface.
 5. A semiconductor device fabricated by the semiconductor device fabricating method according to claim
 1. 6. A semiconductor device fabricating apparatus comprising: a plurality of wafer holders for holding a plurality of wafers, respectively; a chip conveying device for conveying one chip from each of said plurality of wafers held by said plurality of wafer holders; a preparatory stage having a support surface on which chips conveyed from said plurality of wafers by said chip conveying device are stacked up and are bonded together by bonding layers to form a chip assembly; a chip assembly conveying device for conveying said chip assembly from said preparatory stage onto a die pad; and a stage on which said chip assembly is bonded to said die pad by a bonding layer.
 7. The semiconductor device fabricating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said support surface of said preparatory stage inhibits the adhesion of said bonding layer to said support surface. 